Fretting attachment for stringed musical instruments



F. BONNER March 10, 1931.

FRETTING ATTACHMENT FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed Nov. 14, 1929 Patented Mar. 10, 1931 UNITED STATES FRANK BONNER, OF HIGH STONE, LONDON, ENG-LAND FRETTING ATTACHMENT FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Application filed November 14, 1929, Serial No. 407,222, and in Great Britain January 17, 1929.

This invention for an improved fretting attachment for violins, cellos and otherstringed musical instruments has for its object to enable frets to be readily applied to and secured on the finger-boards of stringed musical instruments of the nature indicated in such manner that when no longer required the frets can be easily removed without damaging or mutilating the finger-board.

The frets which give the correct stopping and also indicate the correct positions for the fingers in playing will be of great assistance to beginners, and will facilitate the teaching of the violin and similar instruments which are not usually fretted.

According to this invention the frets are formed on or secured to a strip or strips of thin fabric, paper or other suitable material which is or are secured on the finger-board of the instrument either by an adhesive or by elastic bands or other means.

Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a fretting attachment according to this invention,

wherein Fig. 1 is a plan view of a portion of a violin showing the attachment secured in place on the finger-board, and

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of the portion of the finger-board and attachment adjacent the nut, drawn to a larger scale.

As shown the frets l are carried on a foundation strip of linen fabric, paper or tracing cloth 2 to which they are secured by a second strip of linen fabric, paper or tracing cloth 3, or a strip of goldbeaters skin, which forms a protective covering over the frets.

The frets themselves, in this embodiment, are formed of short lengths of silk cord or other suitable material and are held transversely on the foundation strip 1 being spaced at the proper distances apart, and also graduated in thickness, the thickest fret being near the nut L and the thinnest near the bridge (not shown) of the instrument.

Each fret 1 may be covered by a separate strip of goldbeaters skin or tracing cloth but it is preferred to employ a single strip 3 covering all the frets and adhesively fixed to the foundation strip 2.

The foundation strip is cut out to the shape of the finger-board 5 and attached thereto by a siitable adhesive or other means as afore- ,55 sa1 It will be understood that the frets as well as their covering or securing and support ing strip may be made of other suitable materials than those stated.

In some cases it may be necessary to ini crease the height of the nut to prevent the strings jarring on the frets and this can be conveniently accomplished by providing a channel section thickening strip 6 of Wood, .35 hard rubber or other suitable material, preferably separate from the fretting strip, to fit over the nut, it being held in place by the pressure of the strings 7 of the instrument.

Some of the frets may be coloured in a distinctive manner if so desired, such as the second, fourth, fifth and seventh frets counted from the nut 4.

I claim 1. A fretting attachment for stringed musical instruments including a foundation strip of thin material adapted to be attached over the finger board of the instrument and frets formed thereon of short lengths of material disposed transversely on the foundation strip and spaced from each other.

2. A fretting attachment for musical instruments including a foundation strip of thin material adapted to be secured on the finger board of the instrument, short lengths of material disposed transversely on the foundation strip and spaced from each other and constituting frets and a covering strip extendin over the foundation strip and over the short lengths of material, the covering strip being forced down against the foundation strip between the frets formed by said short lengths of material.

3. A fretting attachment for musical instruments comprising a foundation strip of thin material adapted to be attached to the finger board of the instrument, short lengths of cord disposed transversely of the finger board on the foundation strip at spaced interva-ls and constituting frets, and a covering strip disposed over the foundation strip and the short lengths of cord and pressed down between the lengths of cord into contact with the foundation strip and adhering thereto.

In testimony whereof he has aflixed his signature. FRANK BONNER. 

